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Ukraine in OSCE: Russia must unconditionally accept ceasefire

Russia must accept the ceasefire without any preconditions while Ukraine, for its part, is ready to comply with and monitor it. That's according to a statement on Russia's war of aggression, made by the Ukrainian delegation at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna. "Ukraine stands ready to implement the ceasefire and ensure its monitoring. However, as Ukraine did not start this war, we cannot enforce a ceasefire unilaterally. The Russian Federation must accept the ceasefire unconditionally and engage in negotiations in good faith," the Ukrainian delegation stated. It was emphasized that Ukraine continues to take all possible measures to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution. This commitment to peace on the part of Ukraine was clearly expressed in Jeddah, where on March 11, together with the United States, an initiative to establish a ceasefire along the entire front line was discussed, with the aim of creating the necessary conditions for meaningful peace talks. “We agreed to the US proposal for an interim 30-day ceasefire, as we recognize it is a crucial step forward. Meaningful negotiations require time, and a properly implemented ceasefire can provide it,” the Ukrainian delegation said. In addition, it was pointed out that Russia has shown no action to confirm its statements of readiness for a settlement, and the reaction of the Kremlin dictator Putin to the US initiative for a ceasefire has turned out to be “manipulative, designed to obstruct progress”. "As is customary, the Russian Federation avoids outright refusal but imposes preconditions that make a ceasefire impossible. It is evident that the Kremlin seeks to prolong the war while shifting blame onto Ukraine. Despite repeated calls from the international community, Russia continues to act with impunity, disregarding international norms and principles. Its ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population are a stark illustration of this," the statement said. The Ukrainian delegation emphasized that the current situation "unequivocally demonstrates that Russia is not seeking peace but rather a prolonged conflict". "To counter this, active pressure is required. Sanctions must not only be maintained but continuously strengthened to degrade Russia’s ability to wage war and finance destructive actions worldwide. Equally critical is military assistance, which remains the most effective means of countering Russian aggression. Each additional defense system provided to Ukraine weakens Russia’s ability to advance. Conversely, a weak response only emboldens the Kremlin, increasing threats to regional and global security.," the Ukrainian delegation said. Along with this, it was pointed out that it is imperative to create a robust framework to prevent future Russian aggression, which "must include security guarantees, credible deterrence mechanisms, and practical measures such as the deployment of peacekeeping forces". The post Ukraine in OSCE: Russia must unconditionally accept ceasefire appeared first on Freedom.